The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-10
YELLOW JACK"
Attracting Attention from it, Presence
in Tampa.

appearance in Key West in the latter part OF
May, and disappeared before the middle of
august II was Of very mild type, and the
percentage OF the sick who died was very
small. The origin Of the fever is not in
doubt. 1t is agreed that it was brought from
Havana by a family OF Cubans who brought
with them some bedding which had been used
by yellow fever patient
The outbreak at Key West, occurring so
early IN the season, alarmed all the Florida
towns and excited apprehensions Of danger
even in Charleston and Savannah 4 vigOr
GUS sanitary movement was al once naug-
urated, and in little while the health au-
thorties Of the different towns announced
that every possible precaution had been taken
against the fever The only place about
which much alarm was felt was Tampa. The
opinion was frequently expressed that there,
id anywhere the fever f.Duld obtain lodge
ment on the mainland OF florida and time
proved it, correctness.
The announcement Of the appearance Of
the fever at Tampa, although the season Was
far advanced was followed by exhibitions Of
the widest alarm in all the towns Of Florida
on the lines Of railroad Quarantine
against the injected city was at once estab-
li,hed. and travel became almost impossible
The fear which yellow fever excites la places
which have been afflicted with the disease j.
something that cannot be explained The
reports of 'he appearance of smallpox,
typhoid foyer and even diphthera are re-
ccived almost with indifference but yellow
fever, although far les, fatal than any of the
diseases mentioned, causes such terror that
everybody who can get away from an infect
ed place does so with delay
THE reason yellow fever is so dreaded !,
that when il becomes epidemic about every
hodv is attacked, and d. -evere epidemics
even those who are regarded rs acclimated
DO not escape The very general belief is
that one is not liable 20 n second attack, but
experience proves hat this belief Il not well
founded There &, not a city ia this country,
which has suffered il late years from yellow
fever epidemirs whore there cannot be found
persons who have had the fever more than
once In New Orleans this is especially true
a great many people died in that city from
the fever during ihe great epidemic OF ls7S
who had certificates OF physicians OF estao
lished repuiahon showing that they had sui-
ferod from the yellow fever in previous epi
denies
The captain Of one of the finest steamers
running between New York and South At
lautic port has. perhaps, mad tho yellow fever
more fine than any other living man he
!, 10 little past 80 years Of age and is in the
enjoyment of robust health. Tie does not ap-
pear 90 he more than 40, and il Is doubtful If
he feels a- If he were beyond that age.
His experience with yellow fever is such
remarkable one that IL would be worth the
while OF tho-e interested in the study Of that
disease To- give 10 more than a passing no
tice The first time he was attacked he was
on the west coast Of Africa, in 1919 He was
then only well grown bad and was noted
for his uniformly good health He was sick
three months and was not expected 10 re-
cover The length Of his illness was due 70
relapse and the excessive weakness which
followed it, Ri, second attack was in Cal
cutta but 1t was a light one. There was no
doubt however, about the character OF his
sickne,, His third attack was at New Or
leans during the terrible epidemic of 1853,
when people died 50 fast that il was impossi-
BILE 10 bury them decently Indeed, there
were not enough Well people 70 pre-
pare the bodies for burial, and they were
thrown into trenches as they were taken
from their beds, and covered without funeral
ceremonies Of any kind The captain, whose
experience is here related, was not expected
TO recover, but his iron constitution stood
the strain, and after forty days he was able
10 attend 10 his duties on shipboard again
His fourth attack was at Rio Janeiro IN 1855 /
and IL was "A bad one. The MasOns Of that
L.. fl 4.
after a months illness he was able 70 be about
again In 1850, in the same city, he was
again stricken down with the dreaded dis
ease and the attack was 50 severe that but |
little hope was entertained Of his recovery. |
The physician who attended him expressed |
the opinion that if he recovered he would |
enjoy exceptionally good health, or, as be |
put il, he would be new man. This /
opinion proved 60 be correct, as the captain /
seldom suffers from sickness OF any kind
One Of the reasons why yellow fever ex- |
cites 50 much alarm is that physicians do not |
know anything about IT, They are all the I
time experimenting The treatment is diff |
ferent IN almost every epidemic New Or /
leans is thought 10 have the best yellow fever /
doctors in this country, and yet their treat |
ment Of the disease is radically different from |
what it was twenty years ago Before the |
war patient was doSed with caIomel and |
castor oil lie was given mustard foot |
bath and wrapped in blankets The windows |
and doors were kept closed as il was thought /
there was more danger Of catching cold from
fresh air than benefit 10 be derived from il /
Now the treatment does not include the Gallo
mel and oil the blankets, nor the closed
room. Every effort is made to increase TIL
patients comfort, and lie Is strengthened ~
every way for the purpose of offering th'
greatest possible resistance TO the disease
f ~ II. !